The long-standing partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG shows no signs of slowing down as the duo return to launch two special edition watches inspired by the automotive company’s G-Class car.
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
Here’s all you need to know about the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63…
IWC and Mercedes have been passenger seat buddies for ten years now, and during that time we have seen a pretty hefty number of collaborative releases. One of their best-known watches from this year was the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas which was pretty noticeable for its bright green numerals and rubber strap. For their latest collaboration, things are still undeniably sporty but take on a slightly more “sports elegance” aesthetic with monochromatic dials and gold or ceramic cases – aesthetics worthy of Mercedes’ classy yet utilitarian G-Class car.
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
The two new special edition IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 watches echo many of the signature G-Class design features such as the headlights or the spare wheel cover. Both timepieces are also purposely engineered from extremely robust case materials like 18ct Armor Gold or ceramic matrix composite to embody the same resilience of the vehicle.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (Ref. IW501201)
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
Starting us off is reference IW501201, an IWC Big Pilot’s Watch with a case and crown engineered from 18-carat Armor Gold, a patented material from the Swiss watchmaker that is significantly harder and more wear-resistant than conventional 5N gold. The case has elegant sand-blasted surfaces and polished edges, giving IWC’s iconic large-crowned pilots watch a classier persona. It’s not a small case by any means, measuring to 46.2mm wide and 14.3mm tall with a 100 metre water resistance and sapphire crystal glass on the front and back.
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
For the dial, the black and gold colour code is inspired by the exterior paintwork and interior finishing of the recently launched Mercedes-AMG G 63 “Grand Edition”. The surface of the display is embossed with a relief-like technical structure inspired by the air intakes of Mercedes-AMG performance cars. It also noticeably swaps out the typical printed numerals and indices of classic Big Pilot’s watches and swaps them for gold-coloured appliques with luminous material.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (Ref. IW506201)
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
The second IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 novelty under reference IW506201 makes history as IWC’s first ever timepiece to feature a ceramic matrix composite case. The architecture has been created in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and unlike conventional carbon fibre-reinforced polymers, embeds fibres of the composite material into the matrix of ceramic rather than polymer. This allows the case to be extremely durable, insensitive to thermal shocks, temperature resistant and beautifully lightweight.
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
The rest of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 IW506201 watch offers many of the same specs as its solid gold counterpart above, including a 46mm wide case, 100 metre water resistance, sapphire crystal glass, black textured dial and a black rubber strap with a microfibre inlay. The dial stays in keeping with its all-black aesthetic using greyed appliques for the numerals and hands. It also presents the same small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and power reserve display at 3 o’clock with external white rings to imitate the headlights on a G-Class.
The IWC-Manufactured 52010 Calibre
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
Both IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 watches are fuelled by the IWC-manufactured 52010 calibre, an automatic winding movement used within many of the Schaffhausen company’s Portugieser and Pilot’s watches. The movement was originally developed by IWC’s former Technical Director Albert Pellaton during the 1940s but was revamped in 2015 to include not one, but two barrels for storing a power reserve of up to 7 days. The movement is put on display through tinted sapphire crystal case backs adorned with a Mercedes-Benz star to mimic the spare wheel cover on the backside of a G-Class.
IWC Big Pilot’s AMG G 63 Special Edition - Credit IWC
Some of the more recent IWC X Mercedes have been pretty loud and aggressive in their stylings so these new Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 editions are a nice departure from that. They certainly call for more sophisticated attire and IWC have done a good job at bringing together some signature G-Class design features with the Big Pilot’s architecture. But what do you guys think?
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: IWC Schaffhausen
- Model: Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (IW501201 & IW506201)
- Price: TBC
- Material: 18ct Armor Gold or ceramic matrix composite
- Movement: IWC-manufactured 52010 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, small seconds, power reserve indicator
- Dial: Black with relief-like textured
- Size: 46.2mm wide, 14.3mm tall
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: Behind the wheel of a G-Class, of course!
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Anyone with a Mercedes, but especially someone with a G-Class or a love of them.
- Best characteristics of the watch: It’s fun to see IWC experimenting yet again with more case materials and I’m very intrigued to see how the ceramic matrix composite case wears.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: These aren’t going to be cheap and I’m not 100% sold on the relief dial. I’d have to see it properly in person.
